JustinaHayden

Good luck with the cancer; I'm impressed that you're ready to deal with the banding too on top of those other surgeries. My daughter in law had her breast removed in mid 2005, and after a tiring round of radiation and chemo is doing very well. Hers was agressive and quite far along, so we're grateful to have her with us. I, too, am scheduled for Oct 8th and looking forward to it. I really don't want to wait that long, but have had to figure out how to leave work here in BC for as long as I want. I'm taking the opportunity of driving down to TJ to visit all my kids and grandkids in California.

Wow, you've lost 88 lbs in 3 months! I think I have a lot to learn from you. I live near Vancouver BC, but am planning to get my fills done in Arlington WA, and I'm hoping to find a support group in or near Bellingham. Where are you getting your fills done?

What's a TOM, please? Justina

Hi, Danielle, I lived in San Diego before we emigrated to Canada and used to go there regularly for RXs and Dental work. I am disabled and use an electric scooter. We used to take the trolley to the border, then walk through. Worked great. But when we wanted a car, I bought our Mexican insurance online. There are a number of online stores I've used, but my favorite is Mexican Insurance Store. You pay with a credit card for the number of days, months or years, and print out the policy right there at your computer. I'm certain that this agency, or one of the other good online agencies is way better than getting it from some unknown quantity at the border. When I go down in September, I plan to buy insurance just for the safety factor, drive to the hotel, and park the car there until we leave. The main reason for the insurance is that an accident in Mexico is a felony and you can be arrested and the car impounded even if you were not at fault. In Mexico you're guilty until proven innocent under the Napoleonic Code. All success with your surgery! Justina

"Maybe we should develop a FAQ and make sure we have the real answers." (How do you do that quoting thing?) I've been mostly lurking and reading with enormous interest. I'm very grateful to all of you who post with detail and facts as well as the emotional ups and downs. All is grist for the mill. I want to applaud the idea of an FAQ that could, perhaps, be posted permanantly on the board where everyone would see it. I realize that everyone is different, but still there must be some generalities. This FAQ would also have a dictionary which explains to us newbies the differences between bands (and why they're chosen) and what slimeing and PB are, and very definitely explain why overfills are so bad and dangerous. And what happens to loose skin, and on and on. I think the discussions here are very important, and I will certainly continue to read (and perhaps, post) but an FAQ to "read me first" would be valuable to everyone, I'm sure. Perhaps it could be sort of like Wikipedia, where various people could post answers, and the clinic and others could correct and/or validate. As of now, I'm signed up for surgery on 9/25. I live near Vancouver, BC Canada and plan to drive down to TJ so I can stop in both directions and visit my kids and grandkids who all live in California. I think one of my great concerns as I read this is the topic of exercise. I am 67, 5'9 and weigh 235. I have diabetes, fibromyalgia, GERD, and severe osteoarthritis in my hips and right knee. I used to use my treadmill all the time, but now that would be very difficult until I get new hips. One of my reasons for the surgery is that I feel weight loss would help my current hips, and certainly my new ones as well. You all say that lots of walking helps a lot dealing with the gas created by the surgery. I'm not sure I can walk enough to help, and I'm dealing with enough pain now to be unhappy about adding a lot more. Any thoughts about this? Again thanks to NoWorry and PamP and BSN and Teri and all the others for your help. Justina

Hi, Karen, Where do you live in Canada? I live in New Westminster, BC (near Vancouver) and I am planning to get my surgery in Tj in Sept or Oct. There are a number of possibilities for fills in Northern Washington State (around Bellingham) including Fill Centers and a nurse. Costs about $150 each time as I recall. Justina